What are the Primary Causes of Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a common issue amongst both men and women, with ageing and genetics being some of the predetermining factors.

What are the other possible causes of hair loss though?

Common causes of hair loss

Stress: Emotional and physical stress can cause hormonal changes, which in turn, can lead to balding. Abnormal body processes and issues such as thyroid disease can also cause hair to thin and fall out. When someone is stressed, they could also pull, twist or rub their hair, which causes it to fall out.

Male Pattern Baldness: A large percentage of hair loss can be linked back to DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is hereditary and breaks down the hair follicles in men.

Vitamin A: Even though every diet should contain some quantities of vitamin A, it can affect hair growth if you have too much of it. Basically, your hair reaches the end of its growth phase too quickly and falls out.

Harsh Chemicals: Everyone has a different hair type and some products may simply be too strong for your hair type, causing it to weaken and fall out. Always do a strand test before using a new product.

Scalp Conditions: When a scalp is unhealthy, hair will struggle to grow. Scalp conditions that can affect the growth of hair include seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis and fungal infections.

Too little protein: If you’re not consuming enough protein, it will eventually inhibit your hair growth.

Hair restoration options

Whatever the cause of your hair loss, there are several treatment options available that can restore your hair.

FUE, or Follicular Unit Extraction, requires a surgeon to remove individual hair grafts from the back of the scalp and implant them in the areas where hair loss has occurred. The hair follicles will be strategically placed so that they are able to grow in the same direction as the other hair.

Medicinal Treatments

There are a number of products on the market that are designed to reduce hair loss, with some patients even experiencing hair regrowth. Some of the most common medicinal treatments for hair loss include Rogaine, Propecia, Nizoral and Avodart.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

The aim of PRP is to stimulate hair growth while increasing the strength of the hair. PRP uses the patient’s own blood to complete the procedure. Once the blood is withdrawn, it is placed in a centrifuge before the plasma is injected into the scalp. PRP is very often paired with FUE hair transplant procedures to encourage healing.

There are a number of reasons why men and women experience thinning hair and baldness but the good news is that it can be treated. Each hair loss treatment has its own pros and cons and is suited to different types of patients.

Whichever option you decide on, just be sure to only work with a reputable hair loss clinic and a certified surgeon.